Practice Period Talks
An ango (安居), or kessei (結制), is a Japanese term for a three-month period of intense training for students of Zen Buddhism, lasting anywhere from 90 to 100 days. The practice during ango consists of meditation (zazen), study, and work (samu (作務)).
Ango is typically held twice a year, the first period from spring to summer and the second period from fall to winter. The word ango literally translates as "dwelling in peace"; the summer ango is referred to as ge-ango and the winter period is u-ango. Additionally, some monasteries and Zen centers hold just one ango per year.
Concerning Zen practice in the United States, author Ellen Birx writes,
Many centers now allow members to attend retreats on a part-time basis. Many have ango, a three-month-long period of intensified practice, that members can participate in while continuing to go off to work during the day." Taigen Dan Leighton writes a more traditional definition, "These are ninety-day training periods of concentrated practice without leaving the monastic enclosure (except for monks going out for necessary temple business). They date back to the summer rainy season retreats of Shakyamuni's time. In Japan, they have been held twice a year, summer and winter."
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KPFA Radio Interview with Elsa Knight ThompsonSerial: SF-05115 Monday, November 6, 1967 KPFA RADIO INTERVIEW WITH ELSA KNIGHT THOMPSON Interview, Don't Know Mind, Nirvana, Monastic Practice, Evil, Samsara, Practice... |
Nov 06 1967 KPFA Berkeley |
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OLD - The Need for Training in Buddhism without Self-Seeking MindSerial: SF-05838 This had been labeled as A - transript matches B. temporary audio from this date hidden - SDH Saturday, December 17, 1966 DECEMBER ONE-DAY SESSHIN LECTURE:... Sesshin, Dogen, training, New Year, Don't Know Mind, Buddha Nature, Practice... |
Dec 17 1966 B Sokoji |
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YYYY.01.19-serial.00034 Practice Period, training, Silence, Family Practice, Oneness, Buddha Nature, Lineage... |
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Unknown Date, Serial 00529, Side A Mindfulness, Daily Life, Practice Period, Composure, Aspects of Practice, Posture,... |
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Unknown Date, Serial 00757, Side B Practice Period, Attachment, Precepts, Monastic Practice, Karma, Non-duality,... |
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Unknown Date, Serial 00298 Practice Period, New Year, Tassajara, Building, Gratitude, Zendo, Lay, lecture,... |
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Unknown Date, Serial 00393 Subject-and-Object, Culture, Mindfulness, realization, Compassion, Heart Sutra,... |
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Hozan Alan Senauke Blanche Hartman This Little Light Ordinary Mind, Berkeley Zen Center, Blue Cliff Record, Tassajara, Dharma Transmission... |
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YYYY.03.04-serial.00207 Practice Period, Heart Sutra, Interview, Buddha Nature, Community |
Mar 04 |
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YYYY.06.25-serial.00301 Ego, Big Mind, Intention, Practice Period, Lay |
Jun 25 |
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YYYY.06.28-serial.00209 Delusion, Practice Period, confusion, Buddha Nature |
Jun 28 |